A St. Clair County man is suing the owner and driver of a bus he says rear-ended his vehicle in Centreville.
James Hoffman filed the complaint Oct. 1 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Damon Willingham and Bi-State Development Agency.
The alleged crash happened the morning of Oct. 26, 2011 at the intersection of Lorraine Drive and Judith Drive in Centreville, according to the complaint. Hoffman says he was stopped on Lorraine preparing to make a left turn onto Judith when a Metro Bus directly behind him ran into the back of his vehicle.
Hoffman contends the owner of Metro Bus, Bi-State Development, and the bus driver, Willingham, were negligent for allegedly failing to operate the bus at a safe speed, failing to stop when necessary and failing to use a horn to warn other drivers of the impending crash. Hoffman says he sustained serious injuries.
Hoffman is asking to be awarded more than $100,000 for medical expenses and "a great deal of anguish, in mind and body."
Attorneys Mark C. Scoggins and Natalie M. Sager both of Columbia are representing him.
St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-521